Non resident hunting in Iowa

[P Y Buck]

Having been blessed to hunt trophy whitetails in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan I am poised to draw a coveted tag in Iowa for the 2020 archery season.
I do not use outfitters, and typically hunt leased ground.
No intentions of bragging here, but having killed numerous P&Y bucks up to 160 class and a booner last year in Illinois I have set the personal bar high. I am looking to score on a 5+ year old and hopefully in the 150+ class during the archery season in Iowa this fall.

I have 3 preference points and was wondering if my expectations are too high especially if I was to hunt state or federal ground in Iowa
zone 7 or 9.

I have had a few conversations with some guys that have hunted state and federal land in zone 7 and they claim the hunting pressure is typically low during the archery season and they have been very successful on scoring bucks in the 140+ range. So I am just curious to obtain other opinions and input on the topic from you all.

Personal experiences and opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Trial153]

I have bowhunted iowa 3 times. For what you described your expectations are fairly high. With some luck and few weeks it doable but I wouldn't say probable.

 

[gjs4]

Save your points and there are easier opps out there at 140s imo.
Ehd is becoming a bigger issue there than in the past too


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[Midwesterner00]

I live in zone 9 and we have had little to no EHD here so that isn't an issue. There are some concerns with CWD in the areas with super high deer density. There are a decent number of 150 class deer running around but public land hunting would make it very difficult.

 

[Forestryguy]

Like anywhere else do your homework and 150+ can be found. I use to work for the state in Zone 9. guys would always ask about what to wait for. A lot of locals will pass on 150's, if younger.

 

[SneakyThunderCat]

EHD hit hard down south this past year, so there's no telling what this next season will bring. Cant speak for 9 as I've never hunted there and rarely get over there. I do know some slammers get taken over that way every year. Being from the NW corner, I'd still try my luck in the SE part of the state, however it's not out of the question to find a 140-150 class buck in any zone of Iowa. Anywhere south of Ames/Des Moines I consider some of the best whitetail hunting you'll find. Public lands are typically pretty mellow until the rut, you'll more than likely have company in the woods no matter where you go unless it's a smaller tract that's completely overlooked.

 

[2-bucks]

Iowa resident here...Your goal of 140+ to 150 is reasonable even if your odds are somewhere under 50% for a week hunt in the rut. Your goal of 5+years old is very low odds anywhere in the state. Not impossible but low odds. There are a lot more 140+ inch 3 year olds running around than 5+ year old deer of any size.

 

[TSAMP]

I Hunt private SE Iowa and hunt zone 9 public every year as well. Deer density is good and more public access in zone 9 in my opinion, it is a hot spot for CWD though for the state. I say your goals are set pretty high, but nothin wrong with that.

 

[P Y Buck]

I was looking at some of the public ground within the Iowa river corridor within zone 7. Anyone hunted that area in the past? I have talked with a few state wildlife biologists and dnr field officer. They told me the deer density is good all felt that the odds of 150 class deer was good, maybe not 5 years of age but respectable bucks for public ground.
I am also open to a possible lease if anyone knows of any good ground within zone 7

 

[voltage]

Have you considered waiting for unit 3 or 4? You are close to being able to draw. You could join Mid America Hunting Association for a “lease” option.

 

[bcar]

are you gonna pass on all the 150" 3 year olds? I would chose zone 9 over zone 7 all day every day.

 

[Forcedtowork]

I hunted Zone 5 public land as a NR a few years ago and have been there shed hunting several times. IMO a 5 yo on public is going to be much more of a challenge to find than the 150" part. Also, it seems there has been a significant upswing in public land pressure over the past 3 years. Iowa is special...good luck!

 

[Roofer1]

Not sure what it's worth, just some info on area 9. Me and a group of 4 other guys have late season muzzleloader hunted zone 9 for the past 3 years. Was on 800 private acres in the far east side that we had exclusive rights on after the second gun. We let it set for at least a week before we hunted. Between the 5 of us over the course of the 3 years we had maybe about 400 hours of stand time, and lots of booze at Shep's in Lansing. We only saw one deer over 4 years old and that was last year, pic should be attached .

 

[SavedByGrace2001]

Hey guys I know this is an older thread, but thinking about hunting late Muzzleloader season in Iowa this year, what zone would you guys recommend, any information on would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Roofer1]

I've hunted 6 and 9 for the late muzzleloader season. We always had a lease or access to private so we just sat easy food sources and saw ALOT of deer in both. Not sure what your situation is though so not sure that helps?

 

[SavedByGrace2001]

Well we're looking at mostly just hunting state land, unless we somehow find private that were allowed to hunt. and we have enough points to get drawn for a Muzzleloader tag, looking mostly for good areas that have enough Woods for deer to hide in but also there needs to be food source for late-season.
But yes sir that information help. Thanks
Keep the info comming guy

 

[Midwesterner00]

Late season public land hunting in Iowa is a very tough hunt. The deer have been running for their lives for the past 3 weeks and they typically congregate near a food source with little pressure which almost always means private land. I have hunted Iowa my whole life and have never had success on public ground after the shotgun seasons. That being said Iowa has a lot of deer and anything is possible.

 

[SavedByGrace2001]

Thanks for the info, I am sure they are harder to hunt after the shot gun season, but like you said anything is possible. I am looking for larger tracts of public land in in iowa . My brother and I have killed some nice deer in late muzzleloader season in ohio where we hunt, and that ground gets hammered by the amish in gun season and they pretty much kill every thing that moves, that being said my brother killed his biggest buck 170s 12 point with 24" spread there in late muzzleloader season. Were not afraid to work for our deer, really the challenge makes it more appreciated.
Keep the info comming guys
Thanks

 

[OMB]

Thanks for the info, I am sure they are harder to hunt after the shot gun season, but like you said anything is possible. I am looking for larger tracts of public land in in iowa . My brother and I have killed some nice deer in late muzzleloader season in ohio where we hunt, and that ground gets hammered by the amish in gun season and they pretty much kill every thing that moves, that being said my brother killed his biggest buck 170s 12 point with 24" spread there in late muzzleloader season. Were not afraid to work for our deer, really the challenge makes it more appreciated.
Keep the info comming guys
Thanks

I've lived in Iowa and hunted on a 900 acre block for 25 years, and I've also lived and hunted in Ohio, and if you're shooting gross 170 bucks in Ohio, there's no reason to road trip to Iowa for any gun season unless if you have serious private access. You can work as hard as you want, but you'll have a 130" hanging off the tailgate going east on 65 at best.

Feel free to PM me, but gun season without huge private access is a waste of time in Iowa.

 

[SavedByGrace2001]

Hey to be honest I'd be happy with a 130s , to me it's not always the score, but killing a mature buck and the experience. We hunt Ohio every year and usually fill our tags in bow season, that's why I'm looking to go out in late muzzleloader season after my other tags are filled. Just looking for any help and suggestions
Thanks